Associations between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and ischemic stroke

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the commonest chronic liver disease and affects a considerab-le proportion of the general population. NAFLD is independently associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events, particularly coronary heart disease. Importantly, even though NAFLD is more prevalent in patients with major cardiovascular risk factors(e.g., type 2 diab-etes mellitus, ob-esity and hypertension), the association b-etween NAFLD and cardiovascular disease appears to b-e independent of these risk factors. However, NAFLD also appears to increase the risk for ischemic stroke, a leading cause of mortality and long-term disab-ility worldwide. It also appears that nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is more strongly related to the risk of ischemic stroke than isolated hepatic steatosis. Moreover, emerging data suggest that patients with NAFLD experience more severe ischemic stroke and have more unfavorab-le prognosis after an acute ischemic stroke in terms of functional dependency and short-and long-term mortality. These associations have major pub-lic health implications, since ischemic stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and an important cause of long-term disab-ility. The aim of the present review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the relationship b-etween NAFLD and ischemic stroke incidence, severity and outcome. Given these associations, it might b-e useful to evaluate patients with acute ischemic stroke for the presence of NAFLD and to manage those with NAFLD more aggressively.

Role of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors in the management of heart failure in patients with diabetes mellitus

Heart failure(HF)is a major complication of diabetes mellitus(DM).Patients with DM have considerably higher risk for HF than non-diabetic subjects and HF is also more severe in the former.Given the rising prevalence of DM,the management of HF in diabetic patients has become the focus of increased attention.In this context,the findings of several randomized,placebo-controlled trials that evaluated the effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors on the risk of hospitalization for HF in patients with type 2 DM represent a paradigm shift in the management of HF.These agents consistently reduced the risk of hospitalization for HF both in patients with and in those without HF.These benefits appear to be partly independent from glucose-lowering and have also been reported in patients without DM.However,there are more limited data regarding the benefit of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors in patients with HF and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction,which is the commonest type of HF in diabetic patients.

New guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pulmonary embolism:Key changes

Pulmonary embolism(PE)is an important public health problem.In August2019,the European Society of Cardiology in collaboration with the European Respiratory Society released new guidelines for the diagnosis and management of PE.We discuss the basic changes between these recent guidelines and the previous guidelines that were published in 2014.Regarding diagnosis,the new guidelines propose the use of an age-adjusted cut-off level of D-dimers instead of a fixed cut-off value.A D-dimer test adapted to clinical possibility should also be considered instead of fixed cut-off level of D-dimer.Detailed recommendations for the diagnosis of PE during pregnancy are also provided.Regarding risk stratification,assessment of PE-related early mortality risk is recommended.Moreover,the importance of right ventricular dysfunction is emphasized in lowrisk patients.For further risk stratification of the severity of PE in patients without hemodynamic instability,use of validated scores that combine clinical,imaging and laboratory PE-related prognostic factors might also be considered.Regarding treatment,the possibility of early discharge is mentioned in patients without severe comorbidities,who are not of high risk for sudden death and in whom proper medical management at home and proper medical follow up can be ensured.The new guidelines also suggest that pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels,right ventricular function and the presence of thrombus in the right heart could be useful for guiding the decision of early discharge.Overall,these new guidelines introduce several key changes and knowledge and adherence to them will improve the outcome of patients with PE.